The story takes place at the end of the Western Han Dynasty, when Wang Mang usurped the throne. Bai Li Xunmei, the mortal reincarnation of the thousand-year-old snake demon A Ling, was the second daughter of a general's household. She had enjoyed a comfortable childhood, doted on by her parents and free to do as she pleased. From a young age, she studied literature and martial arts, and her exceptional intelligence won the praise of her family and neighbors. But fate had other plans. When she was fifteen, her father was framed and banished to the wild lands of Lingnan. Bai Li Xunmei and the rest of the family followed him south, where they struggled to survive and lost all their former glory.
In the imperial palace, Emperor Cheng of Han doted on the sisters Zhao Feiyan and Zhao Hede. To please his favorites, he ordered a large number of palace maids to be recruited. The sensible Bai Li Xunmei entered the palace in place of Bai Li Lanfang. Unfamiliar with palace rules, she was assigned to the laundry bureau to do hard labor. By chance, she became the personal maid of the talented Ban Jieyu, and obtained her first tear from her. Later, with Ban Jieyu's help, she was able to leave the palace. Now that her memories of her past life had returned, Bai Li Xunmei continued on her journey to find the remaining six tears...
As she traveled through the mortal world, Bai Li Xunmei gradually grew stronger. With her unwavering resolve and tireless effort, she finally fulfilled her mission.
